Object Groups

George Ludington was cashier of the Bank of Kent, Ludingtonville, New York. His brothers originated most of the correspondence. Another Ludington (relationship uncertain) wrote a few letters, and one letter is from a "cousin" of George

The brothers were, in order of volume of correspondence: (1) James, a lumber dealer of Milwaukee, (2) Nelson, a lumber manufacturer and dealer in Chicago, (3) Charles H., a senior partner in Lathrop, Ludington & Company, an import/export firm in New York City, (4) Harrison, senior partner of H. Ludington & Co., lumber merchants, (5) Sims, lumber merchant and volunteer soldier in the Union Army, (6) Sam, employment uncertain. Other family members represented in the correspondence are: B. L. Ludington, relationship uncertain, employed in U.S. Appraisers Office, New York City, and Henry B. Camby, a cousin in New York City

Other correspondence from non-family members came mainly from (1) Orlando B. Turrell, an employee of Caldwell and Co., a bank in St. Paul, Minnesota and later the cashier of the Marine Bank of that city, and (2) Edwin Caldwell, a senior partner of the Savings Bank of Caldwell, Whitney and Co., St. Paul, Minnesota

Summary

Almost entirely letters and business memoranda received by Ludington, a banker who resided in Ludingtonville, Putnam County, New York, north of New York City. The major correspondents were his six brothers. Four brothers were engaged in lumber manufacture and merchandising and other businesses in the Midwest, and another was in the import/export trade in New York City. Additional correspondence with other family members, friends, and business associates

The bulk of the correspondence is dated just prior to and during the Civil War. The primary subject matter is business dealings, mainly financial transactions involving extension of loans by George Ludington, their servicing and repayment. Some correspondence relates to merchandise purchases and dealings in commodities. There are numerous references to local "currencies" (the notes of banks, often of uncertain security) and to the credit-worthiness of individuals

The letters often refer to matters of personal and family interest and include revealing comments on military aspects of the Civil War (particularly the draft and the then legal practice of buying substitutes for military duty). One Ludington brother served in the Union Army and was seriously wounded. There are references to difficulties with Indian tribes in Illinois and Minnesota

Cite as

George W. Ludington Collection, 1817-1889, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Evance was a merchant in Charles Town, South Carolina, according to Rudolf Loeser in an e-mail, 1/12/2011, who cited "The Papers of Henry Laurens," 2:212n. (Laurens, Henry (1972). Papers of Henry Laurens. editors: Philip May Hamer, George C Rogers, David R Chesnutt. Columbia, S.C.: Univ. of South Carolina Press. ISBN 1570034656. OCLC 63771927.)

Summary

A book of receipts for payments made by Thomas Evance to various individuals for purchases and payment of debts. Items listed include a bedstead, horses, rent, rum, food, books, rice, a wig, chimney construction, coal, freight for 32,000 shingles, wages as overseer of a "plantation at Santee" (South Carolina?), and "Two Negro's [sic] sent up this year" [as slaves?]

Cite as

Thomas Evance Receipt Book, 1754-1774, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Includes two views of California Indians in non-traditional dress, by Lawrence & Houseworth; three views of families in traditional dress from Watkins New Series; and three by Continent Stereoscopic Company: "Pueblo Indian Girls," "Stalwart Indian of Arizona" (CBA #9753), and men with rifles and dog, "Preparing to attack Indians in New Mexico" (CBA #9752)

Cite as

Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Archives Center, National Museum of American History